The İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March), the National Anthem of Turkey, was adopted two and a half years before the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and motivated troops fighting in the Turkish War of Independence. The themes of nationalism, freedom and faith are evident in the lyrics.
Turkey, known officially as the Republic of Turkey, was once the center of the vast, powerful Ottoman Empire. When the empire eventually deteriorated, European nations planned to divide the land among themselves. However, the nationalist Turks, led by Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, fought for independence and succeeded when they officially became the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. Atatürk, their leader in battle, was elected president, and Ankara was the capital. Reforms swept through the nation, reforms that transformed Turkey into a modern, secular nation-state. Atatürk strived to form as many relations as he could with Western and European nations. Atatürk’s successor, Ismet Inönü,kept the nation neutral during World War II. After the war, the Democratic Party came to power for a short period of time, but was taken over by multiple military coups. The Pro-Islamist Welfare Party emerged as a popular party, but was banned after being accused of undermining the secular republic. For decades after and even still today, the people of Turkey are divided between having an Islamic or secular ruling party. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have sought for Kurdish autonomy and launched a long line of guerilla and terrorist attacks that have claimed many lives.
Turkeyis recognized as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire and a major Middle Eastern power. Its location between Europe and Asia, the Mediterranean and Black Sea makes it geographically significant and in control of the Black Sea. It is a country of many foreign relations. It is a founding member of various organizations and alliances with the West, for example, the United Nations, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the G-20 major economies. It has also made cultural and industrial relations with the Middle East and Central Asia, such as the Turkic Council, Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey has also maintained ties with the US, shown by the Truman Doctrine and the cooperation against terrorists in Iraq. Religion, nationalism and geogrpahy are definitely factors that have contributed to the politics, economy, society and actions of Turkey.
MAPS
Turkey
TIMELINE
1923: Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led Turkish Nationalists against Allied forces during the Turkish War of Independence, overthrew the Ottoman Sultan, became president of the newRepublic ofTurkey and established a single party regime, the Grand National Assembly
Treaty of Lausanne, signed by Turkey and Allied forces, recognized the boundaries of modern Turkey and the removal of spheres of influence from the Allies.
1945: Turkey was neutral in World War II, declaring war on Germany to remain a charter member of the United Nations but not actually fighting
1947: US declared the Truman Doctrine, guaranteeing political and economical security of Turkey and Greece from the Soviet Union
1950: Democratic Party won the elections and instituted a multi-party democracy led by prime minister Adnan Menderes
1952: Turkey joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and other Western alliances and organizations
1960: military coup resulted in an interim military government coming to power
1965: Justice Party led by Süleyman Demirel won elections and formed a one-party government
late 1960s: Republican Peasants’ Nation Party created political violence from bad economic conditions and hatred for pro-Western foreign policy
1980: General Kenan Evren, leader of military coup, and his successor Turgut Özal provided stability in government
1990: war between PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party) and Turkish troops began and Turkey allowed the US to launch air strikes on Iraq from Turkish bases
1996: Pro-Islamic Welfare Party led by Necmettin Erbakan took power and increased the power of Islamic institutions
1998: Pro-Islamic Welfare Party was banned because it undermined the secular government
2001: France recognized the killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide
2002: Islamist led by Tayyip Erdoğan won elections and promised to adhere to secular principles of constitution
2007: PKK terrorist attacks escalated and Turkey cooperated with the US by sending troops over the Iraq border
US recognized the killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide
2008: trials were held for members of the ultra-nationalist, anti-Islamist Ergenoken group, which was accused of provoking a military coup against the government
2009: Turkey and Armenia began to reconcile
Parliament decided to increase Kurdish language rights and reduce military presence in the mainly-Kurdish southeast
2010: Parliament debated over the constitutional changes of making Turkey more democratic
Republican People’s Party said that the Islamist ruling party was seeking for more control over the secular judiciary
2010: Parliamentary control over the army and judiciary increased
2011: AKP (Justice and Development Party) won elections and remained in power
Iran and Turkey agreed to cooperate to defeat Kurdish militants after the deadliest attack of PKK rebels on Turkish troops near Iraqi border
20th CENTURY ISSUES
Pre 1945
After World War I, the Allied forces, including Britain, France, Italy and Greece, negotiated the partitioning of the declining Ottoman Empire. Russia was to gain Istanbul, the straits it had wanted in the Crimean War, and eastern Anatolia. France and Italy were also to have portions of Anatolia, and Greece was promised Izmir just to encourage entry into war, for Italy had already been promised Izmar. The Allied forces presented the Treaty of Sèvres to the Ottoman Empire stating the Allied forces’ mandates. The Ottoman sultan was kept in custody to ensure cooperation. However, the Allied forces failed to consider the strong nationalist movement in Turkey. In 1992, Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the nationalist army and drove out invading Greek forces in Anatolia. The Treaty of Lausanne (see primary source below), signed by Turkey, France, Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Romania in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 24, 1923, recognized the boundaries of modern Turkey and the removal of spheres of influence from the Allies. The newly established Republic of Turkey underwent many reforms made by president Atatürk to transform it into a modern, secular nation-state. He also sought to establish strong and friendly foreign relations. His successor, Ismet Inönü, governed during the World War II.
Post 1945
After World War II, Turkey became a multi-party democracy. However, it became more authoritarian, and the economy suffered inflation and heavy debt. The prime minister made it worse by declaring martial law and suspending all political activity. Throughout the next few decades, Turkey suffered under multiple weak government coalitions. Social tensions increased as economic conditions worsened, hatred towards pro-Western foreign policies grew and religious sectarianism gained political influence. Another issue was the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), an organization with Marxist-Leninist roots aiming for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. The PKK used ambushing, assassinating, kidnapping, rioting, protesting and bombing to fight the Turkish government. Another persisting conflict was that between Islamists and secularists. 1995 was the start of the political battle between the Pro-Islamist Welfare Party and two centre-right parties that formed an anti-Islamic coalition. The Pro-Islamic Welfare Party won in 1996 and made mild reforms, but it was soon banned two years later. “We decided to close the Welfare Party because of its actions against the principles of the secular republic,” said the chief justice of the constitutional court, Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
PKK Fighters
PRIMARY SOURCE
The Treaty of Lausanne, signed on July 24, 1923 in Lausanne, Switzerland by Turkey on one side and the Allies on the other, settled the division of the former Ottoman Empire in the Anatolian region. The treaty had a preamble and five parts: political clauses, financial clauses, economic clauses, communications and sanitary quesitons, and miscellaneous provisions. Below is section 1 of part 1 of the treaty and a map of the new borders of Turkey. To read the other parts of the treaty, visit http://www.hri.org/docs/lausanne/.
Lausanne Treaty: Part I POLITICAL CLAUSES ARTICLE 1. From the coming into force of the present Treaty, the state of peace will be definitely re-established between the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Roumania and the Serb-Croat-Slovene State of the one part, and Turkey of the other part, as well as between their respective nationals. Official relations will be resumed on both sides and, in the respective territories, diplomatic and consular representatives will receive, without prejudice to such agreements as may be concluded in the future, treatment in accordance with the general principles of international law. SECTION I.I. TERRITORIAL CLAUSES.ARTICLE 2. From the Black Sea to the Æ:gean the frontier of Turkey is laid down as follows: (I) With Bulgaria: From the mouth of the River Rezvaya, to the River Maritza, the point of junction of the three frontiers of Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece: the southern frontier of Bulgaria as at present demarcated; (2) With Greece: Thence to the confluence of the Arda and the Marilza: the course of the Maritza; then upstream along the Arda, up to a point on that river to be determined on the spot in the immediate neighbourhood of the village of Tchorek-Keuy: the course of the Arda; thence in a south-easterly direction up to a point on the Maritza, 1 kilom. below Bosna-Keuy: a roughly straight line leaving in Turkish territory the village of Bosna-Keuy. The village of Tchorek-Keuy shall be assigned to Greece or to Turkey according as the majority of the population shall be found to be Greek or Turkish by the Commission for which provision is made in Article 5, the population which has migrated into this village after the 11th October, 1922, not being taken into account; thence to the AEgean Sea: the course of the Maritza. ARTICLE 3. From the Mediterranean to the frontier of Persia, the frontier of Turkey is laid down as follows: (I ) With Syria: The frontier described in Article 8 of the Franco-Turkish Agreement of the 20th October, 1921 (2) With Iraq: The frontier between Turkey and Iraq shall be laid down in friendly arrangement to be concluded between Turkey and Great Britain within nine months. In the event of no agreement being reached between the two Governments within the time mentioned, the dispute shall be referred to the Council of the League of Nations. The Turkish and British Governments reciprocally undertake that, pending the decision to be reached on the subject of the frontier, no military or other movement shall take place which might modify in any way the present state of the territories of which the final fate will depend upon that decision. ARTICLE 4. The frontiers described by the present Treaty are traced on the one-in-a-million maps attached to the present Treaty. In case of divergence between the text and the map, the text will prevail. [See Introduction.] ARTICLE 5. A Boundary Commission will be appointed to trace on the ground the frontier defined in Article 2(2). This Commission will be composed of representatives of Greece and of Turkey, each Power appointing one representative, and a president chosen by them from the nationals of a third Power. They shall endeavour in all cases to follow as nearly as possible the descriptions given in the present Treaty, taking into account as far as possible administrative boundaries and local economic interests. The decision of the Commission will be taken by a majority and shall be binding on the parties concerned. The expenses of the Commission shall be borne in equal shares by the parties concerned. ARTICLE 6. In so far as concerns frontiers defined by a waterway as distinct from its banks, the phrases "course" or "channel" used in the descriptions of the present Treaty signify, as regards non-navigable rivers, the median line of the waterway or of its principal branch, and, as regards navigable rivers, the median line of the principal channel of navigation. It will rest with the Boundary Commission to specify whether the frontier line shall follow any changes of the course or channel which may take place, or whether it shall be definitely fixed by the position of the course or channel at the time when the present Treaty comes into force. In the absence of provisions to the contrary, in the present Treaty, islands and islets Iying within three miles of the coast are included within the frontier of the coastal State. ARTICLE 7. The- various States concerned undertake to furnish to the Boundary Commission all documents necessary for its task, especially authentic copies of agreements fixing existing or old frontiers, all large scale maps in existence, geodetic data, surveys completed but unpublished, and information concerning the changes of frontier watercourses. The maps, geodetic data, and surveys, even if unpublished, which are in the possession of the Turkish authorities, must be delivered at Constantinople with the least possible delay from the coming into force of the present Treaty to the President of the Commission. The States concerned also undertake to instruct the local authorities to communicate to the Commission all documents, especially plans, cadastral and land books, and to furnish on demand all details regarding property, existing economic conditions and other necessary information. ARTICLE 8. The various States interested undertake to give every assistance to the Boundary Commission, whether directly or through local authorities, in everything that concerns transport, accommodation, labour, materials (sign posts, boundary pillars) necessary for the accomplishment of its mission. In particular, the Turkish Government undertakes to furnish, if required, the technical personnel necessary to assist the Boundary Commission in the accomplishment of its duties. ARTICLE 9. The various States interested undertake to safeguard the trigonometrical points, signals, posts or frontier marks erected by the Commission. ARTICLE 10. The pillars will be placed so as to be intervisible. They will be numbered, and their position and their number will be noted on a cartographic document. ARTICLE 11. The protocols defining the boundary and the maps and documents attached thereto will be made out in triplicate, of which two copies will be forwarded to the Governments of the limitrophe States, and the third to the Government of the French Republic, which will deliver authentic copies to the Powers who sign the present Treaty. ARTICLE 12. The decision taken on the 13th February, 1914, by the Conference of London, in virtue of Articles 5 of the Treaty of London of the 17th-30th May, 1913, and 15 of the Treaty of Athens of the 1st-14th November, 1913, which decision was communicated to the Greek Government on the 13th February, 1914, regarding the sovereignty of Greece over the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean, other than the islands of Imbros, Tenedos and Rabbit Islands, particularly the islands of Lemnos, Samothrace, Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Nikaria, is confirmed, subject to the provisions of the present Treaty respecting the islands placed under the sovereigntyof Italy which form the subject of Article 15. Except where a provision to the contrary is contained in the present Treaty, the islands situated at less than three miles from the Asiatic coast remain under Turkish sovereignty. ARTICLE 13. With a view to ensuring the maintenance of peace, the Greek Government undertakes to observe the following restrictions in the islands of Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Nikaria: (I) No naval base and no fortification will be established in the said islands. (2) Greek military aircraft will be forbidden to fly over the territory of the Anatolian coast. Reciprocally, the Turkish Government will forbid their military aircraft to fly over the said islands. (3) The Greek military forces in the said islands will be limited to the normal contingent called up for military service, which can be trained on the spot, as well as to a force of gendarmerie and police in proportion to the force of gendarmerie and police existing in the whole of the Greek territory. ARTICLE 14. The islands of Imbros and Tenedos, remaining under Turkish sovereignty, shall enjoy a special administrative organisation composed of local elements and furnishing every guarantee for the native non-Moslem population in so far as concerns local administration and the protection of persons and property. The maintenance of order will be assured therein by a police force recruited from amongst the local population by the local administration above provided for and placed under its orders. The agreements which have been, or may be, concluded between Greece and Turkey relating to the exchange of the Greek and Turkish populations will not be applied to the inhabitants of the islands of Imbros and Tenedos. ARTICLE 15. Turkey renounces in favour of Italy all rights and title over the following islands: Stampalia (Astrapalia), Rhodes (Rhodos), Calki (Kharki), Scarpanto, Casos (Casso), Piscopis (Tilos), Misiros (Nisyros), Calimnos (Kalymnos), Leros, Patmos, Lipsos (Lipso), Simi (Symi), and Cos (Kos), which are now occupied by Italy, and the islets dependent thereon, and also over the island of Castellorizzo. ARTICLE 16. Turkey hereby renounces all rights and title whatsoever over or respecting the territories situated outside the frontiers laid down in the present Treaty and the islands other than those over which her sovereignty is recognised by the said Treaty, the future of these territories and islands being settled or to be settled by the parties concerned. The provisions of the present Article do not prejudice any special arrangements arising from neighbourly relations which have been or may be concluded between Turkey and any limitrophe countries. ARTICLE 17. The renunciation by Turkey of all rights and titles over Egypt and over the Soudan will take effect as from the 5th November, 1914. ARTICLE 18. Turkey is released from all undertakings and obligations in regard to the Ottoman loans guaranteed on the Egyptian tribute, that is to say, the loans of 1855, 1891 and 1894. The annual payments made by Egypt for the service of these loans now forming part of the service of the Egyptian Public Debt, Egypt is freed from all other obligations relating to the Ottoman Public Debt. ARTICLE 19. Any questions arising from the recognition of the State of Egypt shall be settled by agreements to be negotiated subsequently in a manner to be determined later between the Powers concerned. The provisions of the present Treaty relating to territories detached from Turkey under the said Treaty will not apply to Egypt. ARTICLE 20. Turkey hereby recognises the annexation of Cyprus proclaimed by the British Government on the sth November, 1914. ARTICLE 21. Turkish nationals ordinarily resident in Cyprus on the 5th November, 1914, will acquire British nationality subject to the conditions laid down in the local law, and will thereupon lose their Turkish nationality. They will, however, have the right to opt for Turkish nationality within two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty, provided that they leave Cyprus within twelve months after having so opted. Turkish nationals ordinarily resident in Cyprus on the coming into force of the present Treaty who, at that date, have acquired or are in process of acquiring British nationality in consequence of a request made in accordance with the local law, will also thereupon lose their Turkish nationality. It is understood that the Government of Cyprus will be entitled to refuse British nationality to inhabitants of the island who, being Turkish nationals, had formerly acquired another nationality without the consent of the Turkish Government. ARTICLE 22. Without prejudice to the general stipulations of Article 27, Turkey hereby recognises the definite abolition of all rights and privileges whatsoever which she enjoyed in Libya under the Treaty of Lausanne of the 18th October, 1912, and the instruments connected therewith. 2. SPECIAL PROVISIONS.ARTICLE 23. The High Contracting Parties are agreed to recognise and declare the principle of freedom of transit and of navigation, by sea and by air, in time of peace as in time of war, in the strait of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus, as prescribed in the separate Convention signed this day, regarding the regime of the Straits. This Convention will have the same force and effect in so far as the present High Contracting Parties are concerned as if it formed part of the present Treaty. ARTICLE 24. The separate Convention signed this day respecting the regime for the frontier described in Article 2of the present Treaty will have equal force and effect in so far as the present High Contracting Parties are concerned as if it formed part of the present Treaty. ARTICLE 25. Turkey undertakes to recognise the full force of the Treaties of Peace and additional Conventions concluded by the other Contracting Powers with the Powers who fought on the side of Turkey, and to recognise whatever dispositions have been or may be made concerning the territories of the former German Empire, of Austria, of Hungary and of Bulgaria, and to recognise the new States within their frontiers as there laid down. ARTICLE 26. Turkey hereby recognises and accepts the frontiers of Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Roumania, the Serb-Croat-Slovene State and the Czechoslovak State, as these frontiers have been or may be determined by the Treaties referred to in Article 25or by any supplementary conventions. ARTICLE 27. No power or jurisdiction in political, legislative or administrative matters shall be exercised outside Turkish territory by the Turkish Government or authorities, for any reason whatsoever, over the nationals of a territory placed under the sovereignty or protectorate of the other Powers signatory of the present Treaty, or over the nationals of a territory detached from Turkey. It is understood that the spiritual attributions of the Moslem religious authorities are in no way infringed. ARTICLE 28. Each of the High Contracting Parties hereby accepts, in so far as it is concerned, the complete abolition of the Capitulations in Turkey in every respect. ARTICLE 29. Moroccans, who are French nationals ("ressortissants") and Tunisians shall enjoy in Turkey the same treatment in all respects as other French nationals ("ressortissants"). Natives ("ressortissants") of Libya shall enjoy in Turkey the same treatment in all respects as other Italian nationals ("ressortissants") . The stipulations of the present Article in no way prejudge the nationality of persons of Tunisian, Libyan and Moroccan origin established in Turkey. Reciprocally, in the territories the inhabitants of which benefit by the stipulations of the first and second paragraphs of this Article, Turkish nationals shall benefit by the same treatment as in France and in Italy respectively. The treatment to which merchandise originating in or destined for the territories, the inhabitants of which benefit from the stipulations of the first paragraph of this Article, shall be subject in Turkey, and, reciprocally, the treatment to which merchandise originating in or destined for Turkey shall be subject in the said territories shall be settled by agreement between the French and Turkish Governments.
21st CENTURY ISSUES
Pre 9/11
Before 9/11 opened the eyes of Turkish government to the corruption within the current Islamic involvement in every aspect of life, Turkey along with other European, Middle Eastern and African countries were strictly Islamic. The laws of Islam became the laws of these nations.
Non Muslim religions were not tolerated or supported
A woman could get arrested in public if just one hair was showing out of her headdress.
In some countries, if a bottle of beer or a bible were discovered in your home you would be arrested.
Unmarried men and women were forbidden to socialize in public. Boredom was common because no movie theaters, clubs, or social events were permitted.
The peaceful Islamic religion was taking its beliefs a step too far and creating an unpleasant society.
Post 9/11
The bombings and terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 was a revelation point for Turkish leaders. Islam has a sense of peace, inner reflection, tolerance and appreciation for life that makes it such a beautiful religion. That is what the people viewed their religion as. Not suicide bombers killing thousands of innocent people. The events of 9/11 had tainted the name of Islam and Turkey was determined to defend and uphold the name of Islam. Turkey became the only hope for Islam.
The European Union named Istanbul the “European Capital of Culture”
Other cultures besides Turkish were slowly gaining rights to express and practice their culture
The amount of women involved in Turkish government increased dramatically
Democracy succeeded
Religions besides Islam began to be tolerated
Istanbul became a center of temples, museums, and religious peace
Economic success increased
Turkey realized their wrongdoing and turned themselves around. Now ten years later, Turkey is a high functioning country with a promising future. In 2002, according to a survey of Islamic world attitudes conducted annually by pollster James Zogby, a scant 20 percent of Saudis had a favorable view of Turkey. In 2011 the favorable rating reached 98 percent.
NEWS ARTICLES
Turkey jails Kurdish newspaper editor
In Turkey comments or acts supportive of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, are a serious crime. Editor Ozan Kilinc allowed 12 editions of the paper to go out with references to the PKK. The newspaper Azadiya Welat has already been shut down 5 times due to the support of PKK, which it regarded as a terrorist group by the EU and US. Ozan was arrested in violation of the anti-terrorism law. The paper recently published that had him arrested described the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, as the leader of the Kurdish people and it did not include the Turkish soldiers killed in battle as martyrs. Turkey's record on media freedom is one of the main obstacles to its bid to become a member of the European Union. The anti-terrorism law has been the cause for many for arrest in Turkey, the government has made promises of reforms and fair trials but among the many promises, the government has made little progress in reforming the judiciary.
Debate on religion takes over politics in Ankara Political battle topic turns to religion as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan states that is was part of the Justice and Development Party’s mission to raise a devout generation. At an AKP gathering he asked Kılıçdaroğlu if he wants to ‘raise atheist generations.’ Remarks from Erdogan came in response to criticism from Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu when he called the Prime Minister a ‘religion monger’ forming ‘division among people along religious lines.’ The verbal back and forth battle continues as CHP accuses that the judiciary has become a government puppet, “The judiciary is not under government command. It is being purified from your militant mentality.” He then bizarrely said that Kılıçdaroğlu was under a magnify glass and ever step he took was monitored by the nation. These comments by Erdogan rallied angry responses from CHP and the fight continues. The topic in politics has completely turned to the religion factor.
While nationalism can often be helpful for the development of a country, Turkey is frequently faced with ultra-nationalism groups distrupting the public. They insist that the current government does not fulfill their jobs. This specific gang and military coup are being accused of attempting to create a state of chaos due to rumors, explosions, and a variety of crimes. Their plan to overthrow the government is what they believe "will save the republic." Their nationalism escalated to the point where they were targeting any non Islamic leaders for assassination.
KEY PERSONNEL
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal was born 1881 in the Ottoman Empire. He attended military academy in Istanbul and later served in the Balkan Wars. He earned his military reputation fighting the Allied forces at the Dardanelles in 1915. In 1919, Kemal began rallying troops to support the Turkish nationalist movement.He and his troops defeated the occupying Allied powers, which included France, Britain, and Greece, during the Turkish War of Independence. Kemal was elected president by the Grand National Assembly of the newly established Republic of Turkey in 1923. He made many reforms, aiming to transform Turkey into be a modern, secular nation-state. He adopted the surname Atatürk, which means “father of the Turks.” Atatürk’s program of reforms, which became known as Kemalism, included the separation of the laws of Islam from the laws of the nation, the abolition of religious courts and creation of a new Westernized legal system, women’s suffrage and right to hold public office, the funding of government programs to industrialized Turkey, the mandating of free primary education and the replacement of the Arabic script with a Latin one, among many others. Atatürk established a single party regime and sought to make strong, friendly relations with neighboring and Western countries. He continued making political, economical, and social reforms until his death in 1938.
Katherine Xu
Quinn McCabe
TURKEY
The İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March), the National Anthem of Turkey, was adopted two and a half years before the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and motivated troops fighting in the Turkish War of Independence. The themes of nationalism, freedom and faith are evident in the lyrics.
Turkey, known officially as the Republic of Turkey, was once the center of the vast, powerful Ottoman Empire. When the empire eventually deteriorated, European nations planned to divide the land among themselves. However, the nationalist Turks, led by Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, fought for independence and succeeded when they officially became the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. Atatürk, their leader in battle, was elected president, and Ankara was the capital. Reforms swept through the nation, reforms that transformed Turkey into a modern, secular nation-state. Atatürk strived to form as many relations as he could with Western and European nations. Atatürk’s successor, Ismet Inönü,kept the nation neutral during World War II. After the war, the Democratic Party came to power for a short period of time, but was taken over by multiple military coups. The Pro-Islamist Welfare Party emerged as a popular party, but was banned after being accused of undermining the secular republic. For decades after and even still today, the people of Turkey are divided between having an Islamic or secular ruling party. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have sought for Kurdish autonomy and launched a long line of guerilla and terrorist attacks that have claimed many lives.
Turkeyis recognized as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire and a major Middle Eastern power. Its location between Europe and Asia, the Mediterranean and Black Sea makes it geographically significant and in control of the Black Sea. It is a country of many foreign relations. It is a founding member of various organizations and alliances with the West, for example, the United Nations, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the G-20 major economies. It has also made cultural and industrial relations with the Middle East and Central Asia, such as the Turkic Council, Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey has also maintained ties with the US, shown by the Truman Doctrine and the cooperation against terrorists in Iraq. Religion, nationalism and geogrpahy are definitely factors that have contributed to the politics, economy, society and actions of Turkey.
MAPS
TIMELINE
20th CENTURY ISSUES
Pre 1945
After World War I, the Allied forces, including Britain, France, Italy and Greece, negotiated the partitioning of the declining Ottoman Empire. Russia was to gain Istanbul, the straits it had wanted in the Crimean War, and eastern Anatolia. France and Italy were also to have portions of Anatolia, and Greece was promised Izmir just to encourage entry into war, for Italy had already been promised Izmar. The Allied forces presented the Treaty of Sèvres to the Ottoman Empire stating the Allied forces’ mandates. The Ottoman sultan was kept in custody to ensure cooperation. However, the Allied forces failed to consider the strong nationalist movement in Turkey. In 1992, Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the nationalist army and drove out invading Greek forces in Anatolia. The Treaty of Lausanne (see primary source below), signed by Turkey, France, Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Romania in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 24, 1923, recognized the boundaries of modern Turkey and the removal of spheres of influence from the Allies. The newly established Republic of Turkey underwent many reforms made by president Atatürk to transform it into a modern, secular nation-state. He also sought to establish strong and friendly foreign relations. His successor, Ismet Inönü, governed during the World War II.
Post 1945
After World War II, Turkey became a multi-party democracy. However, it became more authoritarian, and the economy suffered inflation and heavy debt. The prime minister made it worse by declaring martial law and suspending all political activity. Throughout the next few decades, Turkey suffered under multiple weak government coalitions. Social tensions increased as economic conditions worsened, hatred towards pro-Western foreign policies grew and religious sectarianism gained political influence. Another issue was the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), an organization with Marxist-Leninist roots aiming for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. The PKK used ambushing, assassinating, kidnapping, rioting, protesting and bombing to fight the Turkish government. Another persisting conflict was that between Islamists and secularists. 1995 was the start of the political battle between the Pro-Islamist Welfare Party and two centre-right parties that formed an anti-Islamic coalition. The Pro-Islamic Welfare Party won in 1996 and made mild reforms, but it was soon banned two years later. “We decided to close the Welfare Party because of its actions against the principles of the secular republic,” said the chief justice of the constitutional court, Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
PRIMARY SOURCE
The Treaty of Lausanne, signed on July 24, 1923 in Lausanne, Switzerland by Turkey on one side and the Allies on the other, settled the division of the former Ottoman Empire in the Anatolian region. The treaty had a preamble and five parts: political clauses, financial clauses, economic clauses, communications and sanitary quesitons, and miscellaneous provisions. Below is section 1 of part 1 of the treaty and a map of the new borders of Turkey. To read the other parts of the treaty, visit http://www.hri.org/docs/lausanne/.
Lausanne Treaty: Part I
POLITICAL CLAUSES
ARTICLE 1.
From the coming into force of the present Treaty, the state of peace will be definitely re-established between the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Roumania and the Serb-Croat-Slovene State of the one part, and Turkey of the other part, as well as between their respective nationals. Official relations will be resumed on both sides and, in the respective territories, diplomatic and consular representatives will receive, without prejudice to such agreements as may be concluded in the future, treatment in accordance with the general principles of international law.
SECTION I.I. TERRITORIAL CLAUSES.ARTICLE 2.
From the Black Sea to the Æ:gean the frontier of Turkey is laid down as follows: (I) With Bulgaria:
From the mouth of the River Rezvaya, to the River Maritza, the point of junction of the three frontiers of Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece:
the southern frontier of Bulgaria as at present demarcated;
(2) With Greece:
Thence to the confluence of the Arda and the Marilza:
the course of the Maritza;
then upstream along the Arda, up to a point on that river to be determined on the spot in the immediate neighbourhood of the village of Tchorek-Keuy:
the course of the Arda;
thence in a south-easterly direction up to a point on the Maritza, 1 kilom. below Bosna-Keuy:
a roughly straight line leaving in Turkish territory the village of Bosna-Keuy. The village of Tchorek-Keuy shall be assigned to Greece or to Turkey according as the majority of the population shall be found to be Greek or Turkish by the Commission for which provision is made in Article 5, the population which has migrated into this village after the 11th October, 1922, not being taken into account;
thence to the AEgean Sea:
the course of the Maritza.
ARTICLE 3.
From the Mediterranean to the frontier of Persia, the frontier of Turkey is laid down as follows:
(I ) With Syria:
The frontier described in Article 8 of the Franco-Turkish Agreement of the 20th October, 1921
(2) With Iraq:
The frontier between Turkey and Iraq shall be laid down in friendly arrangement to be concluded between Turkey and Great Britain within nine months.
In the event of no agreement being reached between the two Governments within the time mentioned, the dispute shall be referred to the Council of the League of Nations.
The Turkish and British Governments reciprocally undertake that, pending the decision to be reached on the subject of the frontier, no military or other movement shall take place which might modify in any way the present state of the territories of which the final fate will depend upon that decision.
ARTICLE 4.
The frontiers described by the present Treaty are traced on the one-in-a-million maps attached to the present Treaty. In case of divergence between the text and the map, the text will prevail. [See Introduction.]
ARTICLE 5.
A Boundary Commission will be appointed to trace on the ground the frontier defined in Article 2(2). This Commission will be composed of representatives of Greece and of Turkey, each Power appointing one representative, and a president chosen by them from the nationals of a third Power.
They shall endeavour in all cases to follow as nearly as possible the descriptions given in the present Treaty, taking into account as far as possible administrative boundaries and local economic interests.
The decision of the Commission will be taken by a majority and shall be binding on the parties concerned.
The expenses of the Commission shall be borne in equal shares by the parties concerned.
ARTICLE 6.
In so far as concerns frontiers defined by a waterway as distinct from its banks, the phrases "course" or "channel" used in the descriptions of the present Treaty signify, as regards non-navigable rivers, the median line of the waterway or of its principal branch, and, as regards navigable rivers, the median line of the principal channel of navigation. It will rest with the Boundary Commission to specify whether the frontier line shall follow any changes of the course or channel which may take place, or whether it shall be definitely fixed by the position of the course or channel at the time when the present Treaty comes into force.
In the absence of provisions to the contrary, in the present Treaty, islands and islets Iying within three miles of the coast are included within the frontier of the coastal State.
ARTICLE 7.
The- various States concerned undertake to furnish to the Boundary Commission all documents necessary for its task, especially authentic copies of agreements fixing existing or old frontiers, all large scale maps in existence, geodetic data, surveys completed but unpublished, and information concerning the changes of frontier watercourses. The maps, geodetic data, and surveys, even if unpublished, which are in the possession of the Turkish authorities, must be delivered at Constantinople with the least possible delay from the coming into force of the present Treaty to the President of the Commission.
The States concerned also undertake to instruct the local authorities to communicate to the Commission all documents, especially plans, cadastral and land books, and to furnish on demand all details regarding property, existing economic conditions and other necessary information.
ARTICLE 8.
The various States interested undertake to give every assistance to the Boundary Commission, whether directly or through local authorities, in everything that concerns transport, accommodation, labour, materials (sign posts, boundary pillars) necessary for the accomplishment of its mission.
In particular, the Turkish Government undertakes to furnish, if required, the technical personnel necessary to assist the Boundary Commission in the accomplishment of its duties.
ARTICLE 9.
The various States interested undertake to safeguard the trigonometrical points, signals, posts or frontier marks erected by the Commission.
ARTICLE 10.
The pillars will be placed so as to be intervisible. They will be numbered, and their position and their number will be noted on a cartographic document.
ARTICLE 11.
The protocols defining the boundary and the maps and documents attached thereto will be made out in triplicate, of which two copies will be forwarded to the Governments of the limitrophe States, and the third to the Government of the French Republic, which will deliver authentic copies to the Powers who sign the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 12.
The decision taken on the 13th February, 1914, by the Conference of London, in virtue of Articles 5 of the Treaty of London of the 17th-30th May, 1913, and 15 of the Treaty of Athens of the 1st-14th November, 1913, which decision was communicated to the Greek Government on the 13th February, 1914, regarding the sovereignty of Greece over the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean, other than the islands of Imbros, Tenedos and Rabbit Islands, particularly the islands of Lemnos, Samothrace, Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Nikaria, is confirmed, subject to the provisions of the present Treaty respecting the islands placed under the sovereigntyof Italy which form the subject of Article 15.
Except where a provision to the contrary is contained in the present Treaty, the islands situated at less than three miles from the Asiatic coast remain under Turkish sovereignty.
ARTICLE 13.
With a view to ensuring the maintenance of peace, the Greek Government undertakes to observe the following restrictions in the islands of Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Nikaria:
(I) No naval base and no fortification will be established in the said islands.
(2) Greek military aircraft will be forbidden to fly over the territory of the Anatolian coast. Reciprocally, the Turkish Government will forbid their military aircraft to fly over the said islands.
(3) The Greek military forces in the said islands will be limited to the normal contingent called up for military service, which can be trained on the spot, as well as to a force of gendarmerie and police in proportion to the force of gendarmerie and police existing in the whole of the Greek territory.
ARTICLE 14.
The islands of Imbros and Tenedos, remaining under Turkish sovereignty, shall enjoy a special administrative organisation composed of local elements and furnishing every guarantee for the native non-Moslem population in so far as concerns local administration and the protection of persons and property. The maintenance of order will be assured therein by a police force recruited from amongst the local population by the local administration above provided for and placed under its orders.
The agreements which have been, or may be, concluded between Greece and Turkey relating to the exchange of the Greek and Turkish populations will not be applied to the inhabitants of the islands of Imbros and Tenedos.
ARTICLE 15.
Turkey renounces in favour of Italy all rights and title over the following islands: Stampalia (Astrapalia), Rhodes (Rhodos), Calki (Kharki), Scarpanto, Casos (Casso), Piscopis (Tilos), Misiros (Nisyros), Calimnos (Kalymnos), Leros, Patmos, Lipsos (Lipso), Simi (Symi), and Cos (Kos), which are now occupied by Italy, and the islets dependent thereon, and also over the island of Castellorizzo.
ARTICLE 16.
Turkey hereby renounces all rights and title whatsoever over or respecting the territories situated outside the frontiers laid down in the present Treaty and the islands other than those over which her sovereignty is recognised by the said Treaty, the future of these territories and islands being settled or to be settled by the parties concerned.
The provisions of the present Article do not prejudice any special arrangements arising from neighbourly relations which have been or may be concluded between Turkey and any limitrophe countries.
ARTICLE 17.
The renunciation by Turkey of all rights and titles over Egypt and over the Soudan will take effect as from the 5th November, 1914.
ARTICLE 18.
Turkey is released from all undertakings and obligations in regard to the Ottoman loans guaranteed on the Egyptian tribute, that is to say, the loans of 1855, 1891 and 1894. The annual payments made by Egypt for the service of these loans now forming part of the service of the Egyptian Public Debt, Egypt is freed from all other obligations relating to the Ottoman Public Debt.
ARTICLE 19.
Any questions arising from the recognition of the State of Egypt shall be settled by agreements to be negotiated subsequently in a manner to be determined later between the Powers concerned. The provisions of the present Treaty relating to territories detached from Turkey under the said Treaty will not apply to Egypt.
ARTICLE 20.
Turkey hereby recognises the annexation of Cyprus proclaimed by the British Government on the sth November, 1914.
ARTICLE 21.
Turkish nationals ordinarily resident in Cyprus on the 5th November, 1914, will acquire British nationality subject to the conditions laid down in the local law, and will thereupon lose their Turkish nationality. They will, however, have the right to opt for Turkish nationality within two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty, provided that they leave Cyprus within twelve months after having so opted.
Turkish nationals ordinarily resident in Cyprus on the coming into force of the present Treaty who, at that date, have acquired or are in process of acquiring British nationality in consequence of a request made in accordance with the local law, will also thereupon lose their Turkish nationality.
It is understood that the Government of Cyprus will be entitled to refuse British nationality to inhabitants of the island who, being Turkish nationals, had formerly acquired another nationality without the consent of the Turkish Government.
ARTICLE 22.
Without prejudice to the general stipulations of Article 27, Turkey hereby recognises the definite abolition of all rights and privileges whatsoever which she enjoyed in Libya under the Treaty of Lausanne of the 18th October, 1912, and the instruments connected therewith.
2. SPECIAL PROVISIONS.ARTICLE 23.
The High Contracting Parties are agreed to recognise and declare the principle of freedom of transit and of navigation, by sea and by air, in time of peace as in time of war, in the strait of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus, as prescribed in the separate Convention signed this day, regarding the regime of the Straits. This Convention will have the same force and effect in so far as the present High Contracting Parties are concerned as if it formed part of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 24.
The separate Convention signed this day respecting the regime for the frontier described in Article 2of the present Treaty will have equal force and effect in so far as the present High Contracting Parties are concerned as if it formed part of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 25.
Turkey undertakes to recognise the full force of the Treaties of Peace and additional Conventions concluded by the other Contracting Powers with the Powers who fought on the side of Turkey, and to recognise whatever dispositions have been or may be made concerning the territories of the former German Empire, of Austria, of Hungary and of Bulgaria, and to recognise the new States within their frontiers as there laid down.
ARTICLE 26.
Turkey hereby recognises and accepts the frontiers of Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Roumania, the Serb-Croat-Slovene State and the Czechoslovak State, as these frontiers have been or may be determined by the Treaties referred to in Article 25or by any supplementary conventions.
ARTICLE 27.
No power or jurisdiction in political, legislative or administrative matters shall be exercised outside Turkish territory by the Turkish Government or authorities, for any reason whatsoever, over the nationals of a territory placed under the sovereignty or protectorate of the other Powers signatory of the present Treaty, or over the nationals of a territory detached from Turkey.
It is understood that the spiritual attributions of the Moslem religious authorities are in no way infringed.
ARTICLE 28.
Each of the High Contracting Parties hereby accepts, in so far as it is concerned, the complete abolition of the Capitulations in Turkey in every respect.
ARTICLE 29.
Moroccans, who are French nationals ("ressortissants") and Tunisians shall enjoy in Turkey the same treatment in all respects as other French nationals ("ressortissants").
Natives ("ressortissants") of Libya shall enjoy in Turkey the same treatment in all respects as other Italian nationals ("ressortissants") .
The stipulations of the present Article in no way prejudge the nationality of persons of Tunisian, Libyan and Moroccan origin established in Turkey.
Reciprocally, in the territories the inhabitants of which benefit by the stipulations of the first and second paragraphs of this Article, Turkish nationals shall benefit by the same treatment as in France and in Italy respectively.
The treatment to which merchandise originating in or destined for the territories, the inhabitants of which benefit from the stipulations of the first paragraph of this Article, shall be subject in Turkey, and, reciprocally, the treatment to which merchandise originating in or destined for Turkey shall be subject in the said territories shall be settled by agreement between the French and Turkish Governments.
21st CENTURY ISSUES
Pre 9/11
Before 9/11 opened the eyes of Turkish government to the corruption within the current Islamic involvement in every aspect of life, Turkey along with other European, Middle Eastern and African countries were strictly Islamic. The laws of Islam became the laws of these nations.
- Non Muslim religions were not tolerated or supported
- A woman could get arrested in public if just one hair was showing out of her headdress.
- In some countries, if a bottle of beer or a bible were discovered in your home you would be arrested.
- Unmarried men and women were forbidden to socialize in public. Boredom was common because no movie theaters, clubs, or social events were permitted.
The peaceful Islamic religion was taking its beliefs a step too far and creating an unpleasant society.Post 9/11
The bombings and terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 was a revelation point for Turkish leaders. Islam has a sense of peace, inner reflection, tolerance and appreciation for life that makes it such a beautiful religion. That is what the people viewed their religion as. Not suicide bombers killing thousands of innocent people. The events of 9/11 had tainted the name of Islam and Turkey was determined to defend and uphold the name of Islam. Turkey became the only hope for Islam.
- The European Union named Istanbul the “European Capital of Culture”
- Other cultures besides Turkish were slowly gaining rights to express and practice their culture
- The amount of women involved in Turkish government increased dramatically
- Democracy succeeded
- Religions besides Islam began to be tolerated
- Istanbul became a center of temples, museums, and religious peace
- Economic success increased
Turkey realized their wrongdoing and turned themselves around. Now ten years later, Turkey is a high functioning country with a promising future.In 2002, according to a survey of Islamic world attitudes conducted annually by pollster James Zogby, a scant 20 percent of Saudis had a favorable view of Turkey. In 2011 the favorable rating reached 98 percent.
NEWS ARTICLES
Turkey jails Kurdish newspaper editor
In Turkey comments or acts supportive of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, are a serious crime. Editor Ozan Kilinc allowed 12 editions of the paper to go out with references to the PKK. The newspaper Azadiya Welat has already been shut down 5 times due to the support of PKK, which it regarded as a terrorist group by the EU and US. Ozan was arrested in violation of the anti-terrorism law. The paper recently published that had him arrested described the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, as the leader of the Kurdish people and it did not include the Turkish soldiers killed in battle as martyrs. Turkey's record on media freedom is one of the main obstacles to its bid to become a member of the European Union. The anti-terrorism law has been the cause for many for arrest in Turkey, the government has made promises of reforms and fair trials but among the many promises, the government has made little progress in reforming the judiciary.
Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8509455.stm
Debate on religion takes over politics in Ankara
Political battle topic turns to religion as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan states that is was part of the Justice and Development Party’s mission to raise a devout generation. At an AKP gathering he asked Kılıçdaroğlu if he wants to ‘raise atheist generations.’ Remarks from Erdogan came in response to criticism from Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu when he called the Prime Minister a ‘religion monger’ forming ‘division among people along religious lines.’ The verbal back and forth battle continues as CHP accuses that the judiciary has become a government puppet, “The judiciary is not under government command. It is being purified from your militant mentality.” He then bizarrely said that Kılıçdaroğlu was under a magnify glass and ever step he took was monitored by the nation. These comments by Erdogan rallied angry responses from CHP and the fight continues. The topic in politics has completely turned to the religion factor.
Full Article: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/debate-on-religion-takes-over-politics-in-ankara.aspx?pageID=238&nID=12814&NewsCatID=338
VIDEO
While nationalism can often be helpful for the development of a country, Turkey is frequently faced with ultra-nationalism groups distrupting the public. They insist that the current government does not fulfill their jobs. This specific gang and military coup are being accused of attempting to create a state of chaos due to rumors, explosions, and a variety of crimes. Their plan to overthrow the government is what they believe "will save the republic." Their nationalism escalated to the point where they were targeting any non Islamic leaders for assassination.
KEY PERSONNEL
Mustafa Kemal was born 1881 in the Ottoman Empire. He attended military academy in Istanbul and later served in the Balkan Wars. He earned his military reputation fighting the Allied forces at the Dardanelles in 1915. In 1919, Kemal began rallying troops to support the Turkish nationalist movement.He and his troops defeated the occupying Allied powers, which included France, Britain, and Greece, during the Turkish War of Independence. Kemal was elected president by the Grand National Assembly of the newly established Republic of Turkey in 1923. He made many reforms, aiming to transform Turkey into be a modern, secular nation-state. He adopted the surname Atatürk, which means “father of the Turks.” Atatürk’s program of reforms, which became known as Kemalism, included the separation of the laws of Islam from the laws of the nation, the abolition of religious courts and creation of a new Westernized legal system, women’s suffrage and right to hold public office, the funding of government programs to industrialized Turkey, the mandating of free primary education and the replacement of the Arabic script with a Latin one, among many others. Atatürk established a single party regime and sought to make strong, friendly relations with neighboring and Western countries. He continued making political, economical, and social reforms until his death in 1938.
SOURCES
http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/1997/issu2/jv1n2a6.html
http://www.funfront.net/hist/europe/coldwar.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1023189.stm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/trtoc.html
http://www.cilicia.com/armo_lausanne.html
http://newamericamedia.org/2011/09/a-decade-after-911-turkey-redefines-political-islam.php